This work finds its roots in a question
which emerged in my mind many years ago, and for which I sought an answer. The question
was: Didgreat intellect lead
brilliant men and women of the pastto
agnosticism or atheism, or did itleadthem to believe in and submit to a Creator
God?

The search has been slow but
very rewarding and enlightening. Unlike what somemight
assume, most of the greatest men and women of the past were neither agnostics nor
atheists. Most of them believed in God, and many made God

the foundation to their lives.
Surprisingly, belief in God was not always the result

of intricate and time-consuming
intellectual exercises, but it was, in many cases, the result of an intuitive experience.
In fact, one can perceive in the writings of many great people a taking for granted of
Gods existence and a moving forward toward understanding His Great Mind.

To the great existential
philosopher, Kierkegaard, trying to prove Gods existence was “of all
things most ridiculous” (Kierkegaard, 1970, 93). YetHe
believed in God. Kierkegaard believed that the works of God are such that only God
can perform them " (Auden, 1966, 143). Isaac Newton, centuries ago, saw Gods
presence and grandeur in nature. He held that humans may come the knowledge of the
Deity . . . by the frame of nature (Christiansen, 1984, 257). Rousseausaw God in  the blackboard of nature
wherein he saw harmony and proportion (Burgelin, 1973, 414). Ralph Waldo
Emerson saw in creation a shadow of Him (Emerson, 1900, 74).

Some great minds chose to block
out any interest in God but did not succeed for ever. Heinrich Heine discovered God at a
late age. In theology I must accuse myself of retrogression since I returned to the
old superstition - a personal God”

(Pinney, 1963, 242-243). The great impressionist
painter, Cezanne,stated that once we
have attained a great age we find no other support or consolation than in Religion
(Rewald, 1950, 101). The English poet, Robert Browning, temporarily chose to follow
Shelleys example and adopted atheism. Later,he
too returned to the belief in God and considered the existence of God as certain
beyond the need of proof (Britannica,1974,
336).

Belief in God has been an ennobling,
energizingand inspiring experience for many
great men and women of genius. The great French painter, Eugene Delacroix, believed that
Gods inner presence, beyond a doubt, constitutes the inspiration of men of
genius (Pack, 1972, 697). The great composer, Liszt,was convinced that the Word of God reveals itself in the creations of
genius (La Mara, 1968, 544). Michelangelo saw God as the source of his vigor and
great achievements: There is not a thing on earth so low and base, as withoutyou I am and feel myself (Creighton,1980, 161). The great Russian novelist, Tolstoy,
believedthat life is life, only when
it is the carrying out of Gods purpose (Crowell, 1927, 308). Bach concluded
most of his works with a brief, Soli Deo Gloria, (To God alone be the glory)
(Leaver, 1985, 29). This century, the scientific giant, Albert Einstein,stated that the driving force behind his
scientific search was to know how God created this world . . . I want to know His
thoughts, the rest are details (Clarck, 1971, 18-19).

What is also surprising is the
number of great minds who adopted Christ as their

Lord and Savior, and who lived very
devout Christian lives. Bach was a zealous Lutheran (Leaver, 1985, 13). Beethoven
ended his life as a true Christian (Kalischer, 1926, 391). Goethe, toward the
end of his life, affirmed that his love for the founder of Christianity could
not be taken from him. (Goethe, 1882, 208). Hegel firmly believed that the Son
takes the sin of the world upon Himself” Kepler rested on Christs promise that
Christians have awaiting them faithful mansions in the house of the Father
(Beer, 1975, 356). Rembrandt was most probably a Mennonite (Rosemberg, 1964, 181). Tolstoy
was beyond any doubt a sincere and a practicing Christian (Tolstoy, 1899). Dante based his
faith in Christ and the witness of the Gospels (Dante, 1989, 125-135). To Schubert his
Savior was the glorious Christ (Schubert, 1970, 115). Shakespeare ended his
life affirming his faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ (Rowe, 1985, 182). Finally,
the 20thcenturys greatest
philosopher, Wittgenstein, expressedhis
faith in Christ as leading to salvation (Wittgenstein, 1979, 4-5).

Some might wrongly
suggest that the luminaries quoted in this work arenot from
our scientifically enlightened times, and that belief in God would not be found
in great minds of 20th century. This assertion would be totally unfounded. The
20th century had many great minds who believed. The scientific genius
Einstein; the philosophical giants, Wittgenstein, Bergson, De Chardin and Weil; the
musical giants, Stravinsky, Rossini, Sibelius and Mascagni; the famed artist, Renoir; the
great literary geniuses, T. S. Eliot,Shaw,D. H. Lawrence, Pirandello, Deledda, Rilke andSolzhenitsyn, are just some of the brilliant minds
that lived in the 20th centurywho held a
firm belief in God.

In spite of a host of witnesses
who shout otherwise, some leading atheists have confidently asserted that intelligent
enlightened minds wouldnever
believe in a Creator. Their dogmatismmay
have intimidated and convinced some that this is indeed the case. This work is meant to
give believers facts that tear down such assertions. As Bacon wrote centuries ago, It is little philosophy that inclines mans mind to Atheism; but depth in
philosophy brings about mans mind to religion (Bacon, 1876, 64). Also, the
apostle Paul asserted with divine authority in Romans 1: 19-20, That whichmay be known of God is manifest in them; for Godhas showed it unto them. For the invisible things
of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so thatthey are without excuse.Therefore,
the few who have rejected God will have no excuse before the Great Judge. No sound human
reasoning can conclude that God does not exist. As mostbrilliant people of the past have concluded, it is the most evident of truths.

The great people included in
this work, the reader will agree, are most of the great luminaries that have shaped our
civilization. Some aremissing, either
because material was not found or because they were either agnostics or atheists. This
work will grow and morematerial will be
added in the future.

The author has purposefully chosen to
share his findings in quotation format rather than a long dissertation, because he wants
the facts to speak for themselves without any interference from his own interpretations.
He has also chosen this approach to make available what he found to be missing: an
extensive and well-documentedcollection of
quotations on the most important subject there is. Lastly, the author wants this work to
be a gathering of eminent voices that lifts its praise to the greatest mind of
all: the author of all great minds and of all brilliance; the One to whom all of them owe
their great intellect.

The hope of the author is
that this work will help many to see that throughout the ages brilliant minds have
sought and found their Creator, and that belief in God has been for them an energizing,
ennobling experience. Unlike what some atheists propagate, belief in God has not
undermined the potential of humanity. On the contrary, it has been a fundamental and
motivating factor behind many of humanitys greatest achievements.